Saturday, February 24th

Fête Lounge Doors: 6:00 PMTickets: ADV $13 • DOS $15All Ages

I Set My Friends On Fire

Fusing together older influences of emo/post hardcore with a little bit of funk thrown in, I Set My Friends On Fire aims to set themselves apart from other bands with their unique sound that the band describes as “evil funk”.

‘Pop Goes Punk’ covers are everywhere nowadays, but back in 2008 I Set My Friends On Fire were one of the first to experiment with the concept on the track “Soulja Boy”. High school seniors, Matt Mehana and Nabil Moo put the single on their Myspace as a joke and it went viral immediately. The response was so overwhelming that Myspace took down the band’s page three times because they assumed the views were increasing so quickly because of being hacked to increase plays. The duo gave it one more try with a new page and would inevitably be the beginning of something special.

After multiple offers from different labels, the band signed with Epitaph Records and before graduation they were flown to make their Bamboozle debut. Their first album, “You Can’t Spell Slaughter Without Laughter” (produced by Lee Dyess and Travis Richter of From First To Last) was released in late 2008 and hit the top of the iTunes chart and #29 on the Billboard Heatseekers. After two years of extensive touring, the band went back into the studio to record “Astral Rejection” (produced Dyess and Richter) which was a more hectic, heavier album. Before the release, Moo decided to leave the band and Mehana was left as the only original member.

I Set My Friends On Fire has spent extensive time on the road. The band was the most anticipated band on Warped Tour 2009 and was featured on the tour in 2011. Their impressive tour history has included international shows in Europe, Russia, Canada, U.K, Australia as well as all over the United States. Other notable festivals include South By So What, UnSilent Night and Never Say Never Festival. I Set My Friends On Fire have shared the stage with bands like Attack Attack, Cash Cash, We Came As Romans, Of Mice and Men, Dance Gavin Dance, Silverstein, Sleeping With Sirens and many more.

2015 brought new changes to the band. After using different touring musicians, Mehana announced the band was no longer just him and brought in long time friends to round out the lineup. Guitarists Nate Blasdell (The Bunny, The Bear) and Jonathan Rosell, Bassist Joe Mosey (Lights Out Paris) and Drummer Josh Miller (The Last Ten Seconds of Life) would then go on to play over 170 shows, in 123 cities, through 24 countries in 250 days. This included the U.K, mainland Europe, Russia, Australia, Canada, and numerous U.S tours. After relentless touring, Miller and Mosey decided to leave the band. Chris Thompson and Connor Mitchener joined the band solidifying the current lineup and announced the release of the 3rd album, “Caterpillar Sex” (produced by Mehana) was delayed indefinitely as the band was constantly touring.

The band announced in July 2016 that they would be taking a three month break from touring after the summer to finish the album to be released at the end of the year. In December 2016, I Set My Friends On Fire signed with Tragic Hero Records after being independent for the past year. The band explained how the partnership was a perfect fit, “[Tragic Hero] was one of many labels we met with, but a label that loved us for what we were, had faith in our crazy ideas, and truly wanted what was best for us, which was allowing us to have creative control. It was without question that Tragic Hero was going to be our new home”.

In addition to the signing announcement, I Set My Friends On Fire released their first video in four years with the new single, “My Uzi Holds A Hundred Round Conscience” off their fourth studio album (to be released in Summer 2017). The record will bring the band back to their roots and the original ISMFOF sound but with a twist.

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Kissing Candice

Kissing Candice started as a mere vision in early 2012. Ex-Dr. Acula keyboardist and sample mastermind, Joey Simpson, was looking to start a project that would combine metal, hardcore, industrial and electronic music in a unique and cinematic fashion. Taking on the role of frontman, Joey hit the studio with producer Jeremy Comitas to record the debut EP”Murder” . While giving listeners a taste of what to expect from the band, Joey soon realized that it was time to put together a full lineup.

After recruiting Tommy Sciro (guitar), Michael Pak(drums), Mike Grippo (bass), and Nephew(Guitar) the band began to fine-tune their songs for live performances. Soon, this Long Island based five-piece had a sizable buzz growing online, with followers and fans accumulating on various social networks. Quickly attracting listeners on a daily basis, Kissing Candice was already proving that their brand is being eagerly welcomed to the scene. Shortly after the solidification of a lineup, Kissing Candice were invited to open up both days of Slipknot’s two day festival “Knotfest”. Wasting no time, the band began touring the United States in support of their debut EP while continuously writing new material to bring to their growing fan base. The band quickly began to be recognized for their theatrical presentation of their music at live shows which includes fog, lights, and gallons of blood!

Fresh off a full Summer 2013 United States tour supporting Snow White's Poison Bite (Victory Records) and Farewell, My Love (Standby Records) the band entered the studio to record their follow up to last years "Murder". The new EP, titled "Conjured" was produced by Jeremy Comitas and was self released by the band on December 1st through all major online retailers. "Conjured" shows off the diversity of the band while still managing to maintain a sound and image that their fans can recognize. Since the release of “Conjured” Kissing Candice has since brought their music to new markets by providing direct support to Bam Margera (Fuckface Unstoppable) on select dates of his 2013 United States tour.

Kissing Candice continued their slaughter all throughout 2014 by touring and playing shows with bands such as Combichrist, Dance Gavin Dance, Capture The Crown, and many more. Towards the end of 2014, Victory Records announced they had signed Kissing Candice. The band closed out the year with the release of their new single and music video “Ghosted”.

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Awaken I Am

Awaken I Am is a 5-piece Progressive Pop-Rock band from Australia’s beautiful Gold Coast and Brisbane. You may recognize some of them from the band Sleepers, but after a few line-up changes, the guys decided to start fresh as Awaken I Am. The list of bands who AIA have toured with in the past year also looks remarkably like the roster of Australia’s biggest touring acts: The Amity Affliction, Closure In Moscow, As Tall As Lions, Lydia, Dream On Dreamer, Tonight Alive, Parkway Drive, Skyway, Caulfield, Rufio, Floating Me, Electric Horse, The Winnie Coopers and Surecut Kids, just to name a few.

Awaken I Am are easily distinguished from their peers in many ways. Their EP, Resonance,is brimming with infectious guitar riffs, playful drum structures, catchy composition, and perfectly subtle synths. Their insightful, perceptive lyrics and heartfelt, energetic music can be embraced by listeners of multiple genres, which is why they draw fans from a variety of bases including rock, hardcore, alternative, pop and indie.

AIA’s live show is something to be seen as well. They are teeming with energy and it doesn’t take the crowd very long to catch on to their enthusiasm. Even if you have never heard them before, you can’t help but appreciate the obvious quality and get your head moving. They hit you with passionate vocal harmonies that will send chills through your bones, all while instrumentals remain as tight as they are on the album.

Awaken I Am are, quite effortlessly, raising the bar on what our generation accepts as quality music and talented musicians.